Amador County – Amador Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 18th season this year when it opens its first branch Market Sunday in Jackson with a “Mediterranean flair.”
Michelle Grondin, Market Manager said the Amador Farmers’ Market’s 2011 season begins Sunday in Jackson by welcoming special guests with a “Mediterranean Flair,” including Vino Noceto of Shenandoah Valley, which will be pouring tastes of their famous Italian-varietal wines and selling their estate olive oil. Richard Calhoun will discuss and sign his book, “California Olives, Olive Oils, and Vinegars.” There will be olive oil tasting, and Andrae’s Bakery artisan bread will be for sale.
Gardening customers can purchase “a myriad of herb and vegetable plants to start their own Mediterranean-style kitchen garden,” Grondin said.
For the kids, there will be ceramic painting, and children can glaze a ceramic tile, which will be fired and can be picked up the following Sunday. Harry Jordan will provide the music for opening day, to get the season off to a festive start.
The Jackson market is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Busi Municipal parking lot, behind Mel and Faye’s Diner.
Children’s activities come to the market with returning vendors Dewey Turner and Zella Redus of Five Brothers Farm, who have scheduled weekly activities for children at the Jackson and Pine Grove markets this year. Turner and Redus “will be supplying the materials and the instruction, so the kids can just show up and create a project to either take home that day or pick up the next week,” Grondin said.
The schedule in Jackson so far is Ceramic Painting May 22 & 29, with Paper Making on June 5; and Card & Envelope Making on June 12.
The Market Association Board of Directors held a meeting to welcome two new directors Robert Renfro Senior, and Mary Culver, both residents of Sutter Creek. Grondin said “Renfro is a farmer who joined the market last season, and Culver is a long-time customer who was named to the board to represent customer views.” The Board of Directors meeting included discussion of localized market opening dates and this year’s special events.
Other localized opening dates for Farmers’ Markets follow later in the season in Sutter Creek, Pine Grove and Plymouth. Dates are Saturday, June 11 in Sutter Creek; Wednesday, June 15 in Pine Grove; and Thursday, August 4 in Plymouth. Grondin said “opening days with any luck will signal the start of spring for our area.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
